The Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson faces a Football Association hearing and a possible touchline ban after denying a charge of misconduct.
Ferguson was this week charged for comments he made about linesman Simon Beck after his side's 1-1 draw at Tottenham Hotspur last month.
In a TV interview after the Premier League match, Ferguson described the performance of Beck as "shocking" after the official decided not to flag for a penalty when Wayne Rooney thought he had been fouled in the area.
Ferguson also made reference to an incident in a previous match against Chelsea when Beck was on duty.
Ferguson has requested a paper hearing, the date of which will be set in due course.
Should he be found guilty, the Scot could be banned for up to four games during the English Premier League title run-in.
